Signalling Molecules in the Urothelium

Table 1

Signalling molecules and receptor expression in urothelial cells.

Signalling molecule	Receptor	Method of detection
ΑCh	Muscarinic (M1–M5)	IHC, IB [48]; RT-PCR [151]
ACh	Nicotinic (subunits alpha 3, 5, 7, 9, and 10 and beta 3 and 4)	RT-PCR [37, 41]
Adenosine	Purinergic (P1 or AR-A1, A2a, A2b, and A3)	IB [96, 102]
ATP	Purinergic (P2X1–7 and P2Y1,2,4)	ICC, IB, and PCR [152]; RT-PCR [78]
A/NA	Adrenergic (1A, 1D, and 1–3)	IB, IHC [153]; ISH [154],; RT-PCR [130]
VIP/PACAP	PAC1, VPAC1, and VPAC2	ICC [155]; RT-PCR [156]
EGF	EGFR	IHC [157]
Substance P	Tachykinin (NK1)	IB, IHC, and RT-PCR [158]
Bradykinin	Bradykinin (B2)	ICC, RT-PCR [159]

Display of a selection of signalling molecules and their corresponding receptors shown to be expressed in the urothelium, as well as the methods used for receptor detection. ACh: acetylcholine; ATP: adenosine 5′-triphosphate; A: adrenaline; NA: noradrenaline; VIP: vasoactive intestinal peptide; PACAP: pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide; PAC: pituitary adenylate cyclase; VPAC: vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor; EGF: epidermal growth factor; EGFR: epidermal growth factor receptor; RT-PCR: reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; IHC: immunohistochemistry; IB: immunoblotting; ICC: immunocytochemistry; ISH: in situ hybridization.